A recent study published on August 8 in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery has found a potential link between cannabis use disorder and an increased risk of developing head and neck cancers. The research suggests that individuals with cannabis use disorder face a heightened risk of oral, oropharyngeal, and laryngeal cancers compared to those without the disorder.
Cannabis use disorder, affecting an estimated 30% of cannabis users according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is characterized by problematic cannabis use that impairs normal functioning or leads to unsuccessful attempts to quit. Although the study highlights an association, it stops short of confirming a direct causal relationship between cannabis use and these cancers.
Dr. Niels Kokot, a head and neck surgeon at Keck Medicine of USC and lead author of the study, noted, “The study shows an association, but we are not yet able to quantify the exact extent of the risk.”
Study Details and Findings
The study aimed to explore whether heavy cannabis use correlates with an increased risk of head and neck cancers, which include malignancies of the mouth, nose, sinuses, salivary glands, throat, and larynx. Previous research had attempted to establish a similar link but faced limitations, prompting the need for further investigation.
Using medical records from TriNetX, a global health database, the study analyzed data from over four million U.S. residents. Among them, 116,076 individuals were diagnosed with cannabis use disorder. The study found that this group exhibited a significantly higher incidence of head and neck cancers. Specifically, the rate of oral cancer was over twice as high, oropharyngeal cancers nearly five times as high, and laryngeal cancers more than eight times as high compared to a control group.
The study contrasts with earlier findings that suggested cannabis might reduce cancer risk, although those studies were largely preclinical and not conducted on humans, according to Dr. Luc Morris, a head and neck surgeon at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
Implications for Cannabis Users
Despite the association found in this study, Dr. Kokot emphasized the research’s limitations, including a lack of detailed information about the duration and extent of cannabis use among participants. This makes it challenging to determine when cannabis use might start impacting cancer risk and how broadly the findings apply.
Dr. Morris raised the possibility that cannabis users might be more prone to other risk behaviors, such as smoking and excessive drinking, which are known to increase cancer risk. He also noted that factors like diet, oral hygiene, and socioeconomic conditions play significant roles in cancer risk.
Given these uncertainties, Dr. Morris advises that people should not necessarily stop using cannabis if it provides relief from medical conditions. “I would be concerned if someone with chronic pain felt they should stop using cannabis due to this study,” he said. “We don’t yet have definitive evidence that cannabis use promotes cancer growth.”
For those concerned about the impact of their cannabis use on their health, consulting with a healthcare provider is recommended for personalized advice and guidance.
